Riding with Bucklebear: an automobile safety program for preschoolers.

Almost half of the accidental deaths of children are directly attributable to motor vehicle accidents, yet many children continue to ride unrestrained. This study was designed to determine if an educational program could increase preschool children's knowledge of car safety and improve their behavior when riding in cars. Knowledge scores increased significantly following the educational program, but the use of seat belts did not change markedly. Although young children can learn self-care skills in respect to seat belt use, they apparently need strong support and reinforcement from parents in their implementation.